Advantages and Disadvantages of Shopify

In 2021, it was estimated that eCommerce sales generated nearly $900 billion. It isn’t difficult to tell that starting an eCommerce business can be a lucrative endeavor under a large number of circumstances.

Of course, you’ll need to use the right platform when selling products online in order to reach your target metrics.

Shopify is a platform that enables users to create their own online stores. It offers a wide range of features and functions, as well as a user-friendly interface. This makes it an attractive option for those who want to sell products online. However, there are also Shopify pros and cons to consider.

Let’s explore everything that you need to know including the advantages and disadvantages of Shopify..

Advantages of Shopify

Shopify has been helping entrepreneurs build their businesses since 2006 by providing them an ecommerce platform to sell their products on the web or in person. It has grown to be the most popular ecommerce platform in the world with over 500,000 merchants using it to power their stores.

It’s no wonder why the platform has become a choice for many online businesses.

Pro: It’s Easy to Get Started

Shopify is very easy to get started with. All you need to do is create an account, choose a template, and add your products.

You don’t need any coding skills or design experience, either. This means it’s ideal for those who simply want to get their business up and running as quickly as possible.

Pro: You Have Access to a Wide Range of Features

You can easily add products, manage your inventory, set up shipping, create discount codes with Shopify’s default features. More often than not, you will be able to find exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to adding functionality to your store.

Shopify also offers more advanced features for those who have more nuanced needs, such as wholesale or B2B integration.

Pro: It’s User-Friendly

Shopify is widely known for being a very user-friendly platform. The interface is easy to navigate, something that can often make or break how useful an eCommerce business platform is. This has created a large number of success stories for the company and has made it known as one that people have come to trust

As previously mentioned, this makes it a great option for those who are new to online selling.

Pro: Access to Many Payment Processors

Shopify allows you to use a wide range of payment processors, including PayPal, Stripe, and Shopify Payments. This simplifies the way your customers pay for their orders.

The easier the checkout process is, the larger number of sales you will facilitate. Access to a large number of payment processors is one of the most important Shopify benefits to keep in mind.

Pro: A Large Number of Available Themes

Shopify offers a large number of themes that you can use to create your store. You will likely have no trouble finding a theme that suits your brand and your products.

The appearance of your store will play a large role when it comes to keeping the attention of your audience.

Disadvantages of Shopify

Whilst Shopify certainly does have it’s advantages, there are some disadvantages that need to be considered. We’ve outlined some of the disadvantages to Shopify, with one of the biggest call outs being the limited design aspects and customisability.

Con: You’re Limited in Terms of Design Customisation

Although Shopify does offer a wide range of themes, you are limited in terms of design customisation. If you want to make significant changes to the look and feel of your store, you will need to hire a designer to help you do so.

Depending on how complex your online store is, this may or may not be an issue. If you do need to hire a designer, though, ensure that you engage professional Shopify website designers if you wish to customise the finer details of your design.

A poorly designed site could deter potential customers from interacting with your brand. In a scenario like this, they might visit a competitor’s site instead and never look back.

A poorly designed Shopify website can also affect your search engine optimisation, something you should never overlook for your business. It is for that reason that you should engage an SEO expert even if it’s just to support you with your technical SEO and initial content strategy to ensure the best success.

Con: It Can Be Expensive

You need to pay a monthly fee in order to use it, and then you also need to pay for premium features that you want to use.

When handled correctly, this shouldn’t prove to be an issue because you can generate more revenue through the features that you purchase. Consider it an investment into the longevity of your eCommerce business.

Con: Payment Processing and Transaction Fees

Shopify charges a transaction fee for each sale that you make. This is a fee that you have to pay in order to use the Shopify platform.

The amount of this fee varies depending on the plan that you choose, but these fees can catch you by surprise if you don’t have a comprehensive understanding of how much you are paying.

Con: No Access to Email Hosting

Shopify does not include email hosting in its plans. You’ll have to find another provider if you want to set up an email address for your store.

Although this is a simple process, it’s another cost that you need to consider in your overall budget. For example, at the moment services such as Google email hosting will cost around $10 per month to host an email address that includes @yourdomain. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that using Shopify will take care of every miscellaneous expense.

Con: No Access to Marketing Automation

Unfortunately, Shopify does not offer marketing automation tools as part of their plans. This means that you need to find another provider like Mailchimp or pay a monthly fee for a Shopify app if you want to automate your marketing tasks.

Automation is one of the most important tools you can use when looking to scale your business. So, you should still take advantage of it even though this platform does not offer its own form of marketing automation.

Shopify Pros and Cons Shouldn’t Be Overlooked

Overall, when considering the advantages and disadvantages of Shopify, it is a very user-friendly platform with a wide range of features. It’s a great option for those who want to start selling products online, and it comes with a large amount of potential as long as you use it the right way.

Keep the above Shopify pros and cons from this Shopify review in mind so that you can make the decision that’s best for your online business.

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